Story By: Simon Glover, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report
WARNING: GRAPHIC AND DISTRESSING CONTENT
Video Credit: AsiaWire
The heartbroken parents of the two-year-old girl eaten alive after falling into a pit of crocodiles before the crocs were filmed fighting over the tot’s skull are to sell their reptile farm where the creatures lived.
Rom Roath Neary was attacked and killed when she fell into an enclosure containing dozens of crocodiles after wandering off along and climbing through a gap in a fence.
Her father, Rem Roath, 35, later retrieved her skull which was all that remained of his daughter following the tragedy in the city of Siem Reap, the capital of north-western Cambodia’s Siem Reap Province.
Mr Roath says he has now decided to sell the farm, which he inherited from his parents, and turn his back on his life breeding crocodiles for their leather.
He said: “It is my biggest regret in life, to lose my daughter to my own crocodiles that left only her skull behind.”
Horrific eyewitness video footage showed crocodiles fighting over the toddler’s skull and Mr Roath climbing down into the pit to retrieve it.
Picture Credit: AsiaWire
Rom’s mother, Nol Sokly, was later photographed crying inconsolably while clutching her daughter’s badly damaged skull.
She was supposed to be looking after Rom but lost track of the toddler as she was busy caring for a newborn baby daughter.
Mr Roath added that he and his wife would be leaving the farm even though he knew he would probably receive a low price for the property.
He added: “I have 60 crocodiles on my farm. I will quit this career, even though it has been in my family since my parents ran it. I do not want to risk another child’s life.”
Mr Roath admitted he had failed to protect his daughter and urged other crocodile farmers to be more vigilant.
Local residents and officials have been sending their condolences to the family including
Tea Seiha, the governor of Siem Reap province, who wrote to the family, saying: “It is very sad news.”
Lieutenant Och Sophen, chief of Siem Reap commune police, said other crocodile farmers had been warned to be more careful.
“Even if a fence has been built around the farm, we urge that farmers still be careful, especially by keeping children away from the enclosures,” he said.
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